Another Pro Football League? USFL Returning In 2022 With At Least 8 Teams

Yet another professional football league plans to launch and it's another reincarnation. The USFL will return and is slated to start in the spring of 2022.

The announcement was made Thursday, more than 35 years after the USFL folded. The league plans to come back with at least eight teams and broadcast its games on Fox Sports.

"I'm extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing," said Brian Woods, co-founder of the new USFL and founder and CEO of The Spring League (TSL). "We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football."

The USFL played three seasons from 1983 to 1985. The league’s final season was played on July 14, 1985. One of the team owners was Donald Trump.

"The relaunch of the USFL is a landmark day for football fans and FOX Sports," said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "Football is in our DNA and the return of this innovative and iconic league is a fantastic addition to our robust slate of football programming."

It’s not yet known which cities will host USFL teams, but the league owns the rights to use original team names. The USFL of the 1980s had 18 teams. The Baltimore Stars defeated the Oakland Invaders in the last USFL championship game.

The USFL is the second pro football league that will be resurrected in recent years. The XFL returned in 2020 for the first time in two decades, only to have the season cut short because of the pandemic. The XFL plans to come back, as well, though the expected 2022 relaunch is on hold. In 2019, the Alliance of American Football played a portion of one season before folding.

Additional information on the USFL, including teams and schedules, is still to come.